Author Archives: admin

THEATRE REVIEW: Ugly Lies the Bone

Posted on March 3, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Mind over matter is refined in Lindsey Ferrentino’s absorbing new play “Ugly Lies the Bone” at the National Theatre to the application of virtual reality to deal with physical and emotional pain.

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Notes ahead of the 2017 Academy Awards

Posted on February 26, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Repeat screenings of the Academy Awards nominees serve to reinforce original impressions so while I doubt that it will win, my choice for best picture remains Denis Villeneuve’s profound sci-fi picture “Arrival” (pictured). Kenneth Lonergan’s … Continue reading →

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Sixty years a film critic … how it all started

Posted on February 23, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – My life as film critic began 60 years ago with a log of movies I saw along with my verdict on each one. I was 11. The first movie image I recall seeing was of … Continue reading →

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My Top 10 Movie picks for 2016

Posted on December 31, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett In a year that has featured many fine films with splendid performances by women, the movie I enjoyed the most was Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” starring Amy Adams (pictured). In my review from the Toronto International Film Festival, … Continue reading →

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“Love and Friendship’, ‘Moonlight’ top London critics noms

Posted on December 20, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett Very pleased to see that Kate Beckinsale (pictured right) has won two nominations in the 37th London Critics’ Circle Awards for her sparkling performance in Whit Stillman’s Jane Austen adaptation “Love and Friendship”, which garnered seven nominations … Continue reading →

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How Alan Thicke turned failure into success

Posted on December 14, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett Canadian writer and performer Alan Thicke, who died on Tuesday aged 69, was one of the good guys. He found lasting fame on the Eighties sitcom “Growing Pains” but he was multi-faceted and he had to overcome … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’

Posted on December 12, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett Damien Chazell’s musical fantasy “La La Land” starts badly but evolves into a sweet little film for romantics thanks largely to winning performances by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. A tale of two dreamers whose ambitions in … Continue reading →

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Angie Dickinson was TV’s first top female cop

Posted on September 30, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Angie Dickinson, who turns 85 today, claimed many a young man’s heart in 1959 when, as a woman named Feathers, she squared off in only corset and tights against John Wayne in the great Howard … Continue reading →

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TIFF2016: Women lead the way at Toronto fest

Posted on September 21, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – The big talking point at the 41st annual Toronto International Film Festival, which ended Sunday, was the sheer number of films that featured high-profile performances by women. Around 400 titles were screened at the shindig, … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: Rob Reiner’s ‘LBJ’

Posted on September 15, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – Rob Reiner’s “LBJ” is an absorbing drama about President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s first days in office that is made memorable by a skillful and insightful performance by Woody Harrelson. The film had its World Premiere … Continue reading →

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